Page 58 of Mortal Reaper (Shadow Shifter)

“There are only the words that open the portal.” She remembered the symbols on the rim of the chalice. She grabbed the bowl, spinning it in her hands. There were four symbols clustered together. She pointed them out to Raine. “What does this say?”

Raine’s eyes met hers. “Anum secrataserrata.It means close the secret.”

Dannika cut her hand, dripping blood into the bowl. She held it up to the orange light within the rock. “Anum secrata.”

She scooped blood from the bowl, then slapped it to the rock at the edge of the portal.

The stone stopped crumbling, but the wall around the portal groaned as if it were under attack. A piece of rock reformed on the portal, signaling the door to the demon world was closing. Her heart leapt with gratitude before a red eye blinked through the hole.

Long black fingers with grey claws curled around the crumbled portal. The gnarled hand broke a piece of rock from the opening before its horns emerged, followed by its black, sticky head. Glowing eyes that were too large for its face narrowed on Dannika before the demon growled with rows of spiked teeth.

Its spindly leg stepped through the opening, holding the portal half closed while its twisted body followed. As soon as the demon exited the portal, the rocks reformed, leaving a small hole in the surface, trapping the demon in the human world.

It stood to its full seven-foot height, growling as it surveyed its surroundings. While its arms had appeared thin, its thick legs and muscled waist were evidence of its strength.

Its red eyes darted to everyone in the cavern before resting on Dannika. The hatred and intelligence were unmistakable. This wasn’t a wild animal. This was an efficient killer. She hadn’t called a lesser demon. She’d called a warrior, and it had a plan.

The demon snarled before it grabbed a reaper opposite of Dannika. It bit into the reaper’s neck as he screamed, gulping down the black blood as it kept its eyes locked on the other predators in the room.

Killian stood, motioning to his followers. “I need the demon alive. His blood will strengthen us. Capture him.”

Three reapers surrounded the feeding demon. Its eyes darted between the advancing men, but the demon didn’t drop its prey.

Julius hissed. “We need to kill it. That is a high-born demon. If we allow it to live, it will reopen the portal and call its brethren.”

Julius’ followers moved toward Killian’s. The two factions growled at one another as the demon finished its meal and dropped the reaper to the ground.

Dannika’s stomach rolled as the reaper’s body shriveled like a dried raisin, his eyes and mouth locked open in a silent scream. His skin was gray and wrinkled, devoid of life. It was an excruciating and horrible way to die. One she wouldn’t wish on anyone, not even the reapers.

What had she done?

This was the fate of humanity, the shadow clans, if she didn’t put the demonic genie back in the box.

She turned to Raine, about to ask what their next move was, but he disappeared. She realized he was beside Killian. Raine had used his power of mirrors to advise her, which meant he was stronger than he was letting on.

He jumped to his feet and swung his blade at Killian.

Her father evaded the attack, but the tip of Raine’s blade sliced along his cheek. Killian’s movements lacked the speed and agility he’d once had. His foreshadowing ability was the only thing saving his life.

“Put our differences aside. We must subdue the demon,” Killian hissed.

Raine growled. “You have threatened, manipulated, and tortured my mate. We will kill the demon, but you will die first.”

He lunged at Killian again, but Killian moved with Raine, anticipating every move before Raine could make it.

Raine’s claws bit into the earth, scraping along sand and rock. Their ballet of punches and swinging blades continued as the divided reaper armies fought one another.

Dannika was so focused on Raine she hadn’t noticed the demon approach her.

It reached for her within the circle she had created on the ground. Sparks zapped its hand, and the demon screamed, pulling away from the circle.

She assumed the demon wanted her dead, the person who had ripped it from its home, but she noticed the hand that had reached for her had the claws retracted.

She had no idea why the demon would want her alive. Maybe it needed her to reopen the portal, but she had no intention of accommodating it.

Dannika paled, looking into demon eyes.

The demon’s lip curled before its voice grated in her ears. “Priestess.”

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